Daily Devotion Wednesday, August 28

Psalm 41 – 1 Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.

Mark 14:1-11 – 3While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech. It’s a good day to remember where we have come from. It’s a good day to continue to work at acceptance of one another regardless of the color of one’s skin. And to seek to find ways to help the poor who are amongst us.

Here’s a link to the full text of Dr. King’s I Have a Dream Speech. There is also a link to it on Youtube.

O God, may it be you who guides us to assist those who are poor. I give thanks for the ways that we help others through the Christ People Care fund of Community Presbyterian Church. My hope and prayer is that you bless our gifts and help the people use them to help themselves. Amen.